Megalo Box is part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe. While it is an adaption of said manga, it is a reimagining of it with changed settings and different story elements. Still, the inspiration came from it. Set in the future, Megalo Boxing is a popular sport that bears huge similarities to conventional boxing. The only difference is that the boxers wear mechanical supplements to their arms (basically metal frames), boosting their power and speed. Otherwise, all the rules are the same.
The anime follows Joe, ring name Junk Dog. He initially starts off fighting an underground ring paying off a debt. Frustrated with throwing matches when he just wants to box to his full potential, a series of coincidences leads him to join in the Megalonia tournament. The first few episodes start off slow as it establishes the setting. We're treated to Joe's personality, his current situation and the crowd that he hangs out with. Once the objective of the plot is settled upon, Joe has to fight his way from the bottom, improving his ranking to even be able to be considered to participate in Megalonia. Throughout it all, we're repeatedly told that while metal frames are highly technologically advanced, ultimate, it's down to the person wearing it that determines the winner.
The anime doesn't focus solely on the fights. In fact, the fights can feel scarce as the anime opts to focus on other more serious matters. It digs into the history of Joe's various opponents and what drives them. It's actually interesting in the fact that the backstories are well done, including one where the person suffered from PTSD where you sympathize heavily with the character. Despite knowing that Joe will definitely succeed and manage to enter the Megalonia tournament, he isn't the invincible hero you would expect. Since he has been fighting underground most of the most, he lacks the finesse and skills of the professionals. Therefore, he has to learn and make up with his talent and spirit. What is annoying though is that the anime removes its gimmick early on.
There are plenty of cliched moments during Joe's fights. The biggest offender is how the round ends just as Joe is about to get punched, you can only do it so many times before it becomes tedious and predictable. Megalo Box does show how bloody the sport can be as Joe gets beaten up really badly each time and leaves visible scars.
While you may come into the anime expecting some epic fights, the anime focuses mostly on the stories of each character. Fights don't last too long and there isn't any elaborate planning or strategy. Thus when Joe wings with one punch after being on the defensive or disadvantaged for the whole time before, there is no sense of satisfaction. That being said, the music that plays when the underdog wins is pretty rousing.
The animation takes on a more hand drawn effect with thick black outlines and a tinge of blurriness to it. It looks good and it is fluid where it counts, which is during the rounds. As it hints from the very first episode, the whole season builds up towards the finale of Megalonia. However, along the way, there are plenty of obstacles that hinders Joe, one of the biggest one are the underground mobsters. They constantly shadow Joe and his trainer and at certain points, you definitely feel that Joe will be forced to succumb to their demands.
There are various moments where you, as the viewer, might be doubtful on if Joe will actually get out of his sticky situation. As Joe takes on so much punishment, and the way the dialogue is structured, the probability that Joe loses is very real. You can never be sure, and the final episode plays this to full effect making it tense and exciting. Overall, Megalo Box is a solid anime. The art style is striking, the soundtrack rousing and it spends the time developing the backstories of characters such that it provides a plausible motivation for their actions.
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